Marlissa is a combined oral birth control pill that provides close to 99.9% protection when taken perfectly.
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Marlissa is a birth control pill that offers over 99% protection from pregnancy . It’s a combined birth control pill, which means it contains two active ingredients, an estrogen and a progesterone hormone. These work by stopping you from ovulating and altering your menstrual cycle. Some women find it also helps them have more regular and lighter periods.
The same dose and hormone formulation in Marlissa is used in other pills too, like Levora, Nordette and Seasonale. So if you’ve used these pills before and they worked well for you, it’s likely Marlissa will work well too.
Even though Marlissa is very effective if you use it exactly right, it’s slightly less effective if you make a mistake while taking it. So it’s advised to follow the instructions with it to help make sure it’s as effective as possible.
Is there more than one dose of Marlissa?
Marlissa is only available in one dosage, which is 1.5mg/30mcg. You can get other pills that have the same hormones but with a lower level of estrogen, like Lutera or Aviane. If you take Marlissa but get side effects from it, your doctor might recommend one of these pills instead.
On the other hand, if you have issues tolerating Marlissa, you can try the mini pill, which doesn’t contain estrogen.
How does Marlissa work?
The contraceptive pill works in three ways to make pregnancy less likely.
The main way is by stopping your body from ovulating. If you don’t ovulate, then you don’t produce an egg to be fertilized by sperm. Something else the pill does is stops your uterine lining from layering up, so it can’t harbor an egg when it has been fertilized. Also, the hormones in the pill make your cervical fluid thicker, and this makes it much more difficult for sperm to swim through.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
MarlissaLevonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol
How to take Marlissa
The instructions for Marlissa are easy to follow and should become second nature after a while. Each strip of Marlissa pills is marked with the days of the week to help you keep track of what you’ve taken. You should take Marlissa at the same time each day to get the most out of it.
There are 21 active pills and 7 inactive pills in each pack.
You’ll take one a day and move on to the next pack.
Each tablet should be swallowed whole, preferably with water.
It’s recommended that you take it alongside something you do at the same time every day, such as just before bed or with breakfast.
When to start Marlissa
How long Marlissa takes to work depends on when you start taking it. If you start your birth control within the first five days of your period starting, you’ll be immediately protected against pregnancy. If you start your birth control and it’s been more than five days since your period started, or you start mid-cycle, you’ll need to use a barrier method of contraception for seven days; you'll also likely have irregular bleeding. At the end of the 28 day pack, you’ll immediately start the next pack without any breaks. If you’ve taken a different combined contraceptive up until the first day of switching to Marlissa tablets, you should immediately start your first pack of Marlissa without any breaks.
What to do about a missed pill on Marlissa
It’s ideal to take Marlissa at the same time each day, but Marlissa can be taken up to 12 hours after your usual time and you will still be more than 99% protected against pregnancy. After 12 hours, it counts as a missed pill, and you will need to take extra contraceptive measures, such as using a condom for seven days. Take your most recent forgotten pill as soon as you remember, and then the next one at the normal time, even if it means taking two pills on the same day. If your missed Marlissa pill is towards the end of your cycle, you may be advised to skip your seven days of inactive pillsand start your next pack right away.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
MarlissaLevonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol
MarlissaLevonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol
Marlissa: FAQ
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
What are the active ingredients in Marlissa?
Answer:
The two active ingredients in Marlissa are synthetic versions of estrogen and progesterone called ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel, respectively. These adjust your menstrual cycle to prevent pregnancy.
To create the conditions where you’re able to get pregnant, different hormones in your body rise and fall throughout the course of the menstrual cycle. The hormones in the pill help to supplement levels of certain types, and this then stops your menstrual cycle from happening as it normally would.
Is Portia the same as Marlissa?
Answer:
The active ingredients are exactly the same and at the same dosage. So are Portia and Marlissa the same pill? They’re very close. The only differences are the excipient ingredients, branding and price (Portia is slightly more expensive).
What are the alternatives to Marlissa?
Answer:
There are quite a few Marlissa alternatives to choose from. Some have exactly the same dosages and active ingredients, others have lower dosages and others still have very different active ingredients.
Levora, Seasonale, Nordette, Levlen and Portia all carry the same hormone formulation as Marlissa. So it’s quite a common type of pill.
The main difference between other pills like Femynor and Marlissa is the type of progesterone in the pill. For some women, this might be more (or less) suitable to control menstrual symptoms.
What about coming off the Marlissa pill?
Answer:
You can stop taking Marlissa any time if you decide you want to start trying for a baby. If you’re trying to become pregnant, it’s recommended that you wait for a month after coming off the pill for your natural cycle to start again (a new period) before actively trying to conceive.
If you want to remain protected against pregnancy after finishing Marlissa, you’ll need to use another contraceptive. You should speak with your prescribing clinician if you’re thinking about swapping your contraceptive pill.
How effective is Marlissa?
Answer:
It’s over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, so it's the most reliable reversible contraception short of not having sex.
It’s a little less effective if you miss a pill or make a mistake with it. Typical (or real world) effectiveness is 91%. So if you do miss one or more pills, you’ll have to use barrier contraception (like condoms) for a week to reduce your risk for pregnancy.
Why should I order Marlissa online with Treated?
Answer:
We can help you every step of the way. Once you’ve got your treatment, the service doesn’t stop there.
We think after care is just as important as the consultation, so let us know if you’re having any issues with the treatment or your health more generally so we can help you to make any adjustments you need.
Słopień, R., Milewska, E., Rynio, P. and Męczekalski, B. (2018).
Use of oral contraceptives for management of acne vulgaris and hirsutism in women of reproductive and late reproductive age. Menopausal Review, 17(1), pp.1–4.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
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